White Oak Roughnecks Preview

District: 18-2A
Head Coach: Tracy Blankenship
2008 Season Record: 8-3, 6-1 (Class 2A Division I Bi-District Finalist)

The drop in classification served White Oak well in 2008 as the Roughnecks matched their win total from the previous three years combined and made the playoffs for the first time since 2005. This year the Roughnecks will have to find a way to replace 4 all-state players (OL Taylor Tarr, OL Barrett Blankenship, LB Trevor Wait and RB Orlando Humble) from their 8-3 district championship team. The Roughnecks return 5 starters on each side of the ball including a pair of 1000 yard rushers.

Opposing teams had trouble slowing down the Roughnecks’ Slot T offense last year. White Oak averaged better than 42 points a game and did their damage almost exclusively on the ground. The Roughnecks had three runners go over 1000 yards in 2008: Orlando Humble (1458 yards 24 tds); Jackson McCurdy (1150 yard 11 tds); and Junior Hamilton (1179 yards 14 tds). Humble has moved on to Navarro College but Hamilton and McCurdy return and will form a formidable backfield tandem.

The quarterback position is a little less clear as there may be a log jam at the position. Connor Sharp was named 18-2A offensive newcomer of the year even though he split time with Austin Tubbs in 2008. Sharp and Tubbs may again split time behind center and Joey Dykes might see some time as the Roughneck signal caller as well.

The Roughnecks will need to fill some holes on the offensive line left by the departure of Tarr and Blankenship. Brandon Heim (second team all-district) and Ben Adams are not a bad place to start. And newcomer Randall Bernathy should help solidify the line.

Five starters return from a defense that allowed less than 16 points a game last year. All-state linebacker Trevor Wait will be hard to replace but linebackers Adam Thompson (128 tackles) and Logan King (78 tackles) should be up to the challenge. Defensive end Skylar Barnes (73 tackles) and defensive tackle Josh Lettow (2 sacks) will help lead the defensive line. The secondary will be led by cornerback Josh Spedowski.

The Roughnecks allowed more than 21 points only once in 2008, but the defense picked a terrible time to have their worst showing of the season giving up 39 points in their playoff loss to Jefferson.

18-2A is a solid district that featured five teams with at least six wins in 2008. White Oak’s first district game against Harmony could wind up being for the district championship.

White Oak has gone a decade without a playoff win, but a solid group of returning starters and help from an undefeated JV team could help the Roughnecks get out of the first round for the first time since 1998. Region III may be the strongest region in the state so a deep playoff run will be difficult.